Chapter Five
“Come.”
Edward had, at first, ignored the Black Widow’s response to his knock. His attention had instead been snared by the attractive young woman who’d just left Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office. As he watched her walk away his mind placed her elsewhere, in a completely different scenario. And she seemed to fit.
Perfectly.
Not that Edward would ever admit it out loud, but he was of the opinion that life wasn’t necessarily unmapped. There were times when one’s path seemed to have been purposely laid out. Planned. Fated. And he spoke, albeit silently, from experience.
The door opened and a familiar female voice snapped out a remark. “Well, Lord Eskdale? Are you coming in or not?”
Edward turned to Bessie Dove-Lyon and gave her his best smile. “Yes, indeed I am, Mrs. Dove-Lyon,” he said, as he entered her office. “Thank you for seeing me. The young lady who just left assured me you were in a congenial mood.”
There followed a moment of silence, then, “Did you win at the tables, my lord?”
Edward winced. “No, sadly, I did not.”
“Then the young lady was correct. I am in an excellent mood.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon went to stand behind her desk and gestured to the empty chair facing her. “Please sit, my lord. May I offer you some refreshment? A cognac, perhaps?”
“Vintage eighteen-eleven?”
“Eighteen-twelve.”
“Even better,” Edward replied, settling himself into the chair. “Thank you.”
“I confess, my lord,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said, pouring the drinks, “I’m more than curious to know what has brought you back to the Lyon’s Den. Yours is no longer a familiar face around here.”
“A repercussion of your making, dear lady.” He shrugged. “And not one for which I shall apologize.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon laughed and handed him his drink before taking her chair. “Not entirely of my making,” she replied. “You are fortunate to have a good friend in Lord Pendlewood. He and I shared the opinion that you did not really merit your devilish reputation.”
“I’m not so sure I concur.” Edward frowned into his glass. “I was no saint. Far from it.”
“And now?”
A smile erased his frown as he met her gaze once more. “And now, I am disgustingly and appallingly happy. More than any man, whether devil or saint, has a right to be.”
She laughed again. “Lady Eskdale is in good health, I take it?”
Edward heaved a heartfelt sigh. “My viscountess is in fine health, thank God.”
“And the children?”
“Our children are going to change the world for the better,” he replied. “Of that, I have no doubt.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon lifted her veil slightly to sip her cognac and Edward wondered, as he had so many times before, why she always wore the damn thing. “Well now,” she said, setting her glass down, “it appears I must agree with you, my lord.”
Edward raised an enquiring brow. “About what?”
“That you are, quite obviously, disgustingly, and appallingly happy. Which compels me to repeat my previous question. What has brought you back to the Lyon’s Den?”
“Lord Pendlewood.” Edward took a sip as well and savored the fine quality liquor on his tongue. “Ah, yes. This stuff is Heaven in a glass.”
“Indeed,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied. “So, what about Lord Pendlewood?”
“Have you seen him at the Lyon’s Den lately?”
She appeared to ponder. “Now you come to mention it, no, I have not.”
“I’m not surprised. I at least managed to persuade him to return to London, but he’s hardly left his house since he got here.”
“Why? Is there a problem? Last I heard was a whisper about him pursuing the Grissom girl, though I understand nothing came of it.”
“Suffice to say the pursuit ended rather badly,” Edward replied.
“The wretched fellow is now, in my opinion, in dire need of your services. In short, he needs a wife.” He glanced at the door.
“And from what I’ve just witnessed, I’m wondering if a suitable subject has already made herself known to you. ”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon set her glass on the desk and sat back. Edward imagined a frown beneath that infernal veil of hers. “If Lord Pendlewood is, as you say, in dire need of my services, then why is he not here in person?”
“Because he doesn’t yet know he’s in need of them.” Edward’s mouth cocked in a smile. “But he soon will.”
There followed a moment of silence, interrupted by the soft clearing of Bessie Dove-Lyon’s throat.
“Although Lord Pendlewood was implicit in the arrangement of your own domestic bliss, my lord,” she said, “I seem to recall that you did not, initially, appreciate his efforts. Or mine for that matter. What makes you think he will appreciate yours?”
Edward shifted in his seat. “A good point, madam. And, initially, as you say, I resented your mutual machinations into my private life. Hindsight, however, has changed my opinion. Turns out I owe Lord Pendlewood, and your fine self, much gratitude. I am now seeking a similar outcome for my friend.” He gestured toward the door.
“The young lady who just left. Who is she? Is she looking for a husband? If so, the timing is perfect, assuming she is as lovely as she appears to be. Dare I hope that she is neither poor nor besmirched?”
“That particular young lady is a special case,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied. “There will be no, and I mean no, game playing where she is concerned. If, however, Lord Pendlewood shows an interest in meeting her, I can arrange it. He is, I believe, worthy of her.”
“He is worthy of her?” Edward frowned. “Pendlewood is an earl, madam.”
“I’m aware of that, my lord. Your point?”
“A matter of suitability. Is the young lady titled?”
“She is not.”
“What of her parents?”
“Deceased.”
“But she is gently born.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon shook her head. “Not in the way you imply. She is, however, mannerly to a fault, well-educated, and nicely accomplished.”
“Then I must assume she is facing financial ruin.”
“Far from it, my lord.”
“What is she worth?”
“Forty thousand pounds, soundly invested, plus a fine house in Richmond and a terraced abode in Brighton.”
Edward gave a soft whistle. “An heiress. And she is untouched?”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon inclined her head. “As pure as virgin snow.”
“Then I confess to being intrigued, madam.” Edward scratched his jaw.
“Am I missing something? Other than, perhaps, her societal status, this girl’s suitability for marriage appears to be excellent.
I would expect to see a long line of suitors at her door, which makes me wonder what brought her to yours. ”
“A recommendation from an old and valued friend,” she replied, “and he sent her to me precisely because of her ‘suitability.’ She is alone and, though intelligent, na?ve to the ways of the world, which means she is vulnerable.”
“Na?ve to the ways of men, you mean.”
“I was being tactful, my lord.”
“Quite.” Edward nodded. “So, you are protecting her.”
“And her interests. She does not wish her worth to be measured solely by her wealth. Fortunately, my lord, as you are probably aware, she does have other worthy attributes.”
“Yes, she’s very pretty.” Frowning, Edward took another sip of cognac and recalled something Pen had said: I’m disillusioned by it all, frankly. The expectations, the false pleasantries, the toadying. “Actually, she couldn’t be more perfect,” he muttered.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I believe your young lady is precisely who Pendlewood needs. He just doesn’t know it yet.” Edward set his glass on the desk and leaned forward. “What I’m about to tell you, dear lady, is in confidence.”
“Of course.”
Edward went on to tell her about Miss Grissom’s scandalous behavior and Pendlewood’s subsequent retreat from society.
“He could have ruined the chit, of course, but chose not to do so, which says much about his character. However, by his own admission, he is disillusioned with the dalliances and pretense of Society.” He paused, awaiting some kind of reaction or response from Mrs. Dove-Lyon, but she remained silent.
“Don’t you see, madam?” he continued. “This ward of yours is not a product of Society. Yet she is, from what you’ve told me, an exemplary young lady. Worthy of a decent fellow who, currently, just happens to be an embittered earl.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon inhaled audibly and shifted in her chair. “It might work, my lord,” she said, after a moment. “And although I said no game playing, setting this up might, nevertheless, take a little bit of…”
“Cunning?”
She nodded. “Manipulation of a gentle sort, yes. But I will not allow the young lady to be compromised in any way. Her well-being and future happiness is extremely important to me.”
“Understood,” Edward replied. “May I know her name?”
“Only if I have your word that this sharing of information remains confidential between us.”
“That I cannot give you,” Edward replied, with a smile, “since I keep no secrets from Lady Eskdale.”
A soft chuckle came from behind the veil. “Between the three of us, then.”
“In that case, you may rest assured.”
“The young lady’s name is Lydia. Lydia Jane Page.”
The name stirred something in Edward’s brain. “Page,” he murmured. “I know the name, but cannot place it.”
“Page Imports. Wine and liquor mostly, but some sugar and tobacco as well, I believe,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon replied. “He did business with many of your peers, but liquidated his interests a couple of years ago and invested his gains wisely. Hence his daughter’s inheritance.”
“Page Imports.” Edward nodded. “Good Lord, yes. I recall seeing the name on Goshawk’s ledgers. Were you a customer of his? Or was he a visitor to the Lyon’s Den?”
“He was an old acquaintance,” she replied. “Now, if you’re serious about this introduction, we have work to do.”
“Oh, I’m definitely serious. How should we proceed?”
There followed a few moments of silence in which Edward imagined the wheels turning in the Black Widow’s head.
She spoke, at last. “Are you in London for the duration of the Season, my lord?”
“Probably.” Edward shrugged. “Till Parliament is in recess, at least. Lady Eskdale loves the city and is quite happy visiting with her friends. Why do you ask?”
“Well, it occurs to me that a young lady with a respected sponsor would be more readily accepted into the folds of Polite Society. Would you and Lady Eskdale be willing to take Miss Page under your wing? I’ll explain to her that you have kindly offered to do so.”
“I should like to discuss it with Harriet, of course,” Edward replied, frowning, “but I believe we have enough influence with our peers to make it work. Pendlewood, however, will not be fooled. He’ll suspect it’s a ruse.”
“Which is why you must tell him the truth, or a version of it.”
Edward huffed. “Doing so will send him running back to Elgin Park.”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon leaned forward, giving Edward the impression of veiled eyes locked with his.
“Not if he’s given the option to choose, my lord.
With yourself and Lady Eskdale acting as chaperones, the young lady will be escorted to whatever society events you deem appropriate.
Obviously, Lord Pendlewood must also be present at these events, but Miss Page must not be introduced to him, informally or otherwise.
Instead, allow him to watch her from afar, to form his own opinion.
No pressure, no obligation. The choice to make himself known to Miss Page must be his. Entirely.”
“I see,” Edward replied, frowning as he mulled over the scenario. “Mmm, yes, an excellent idea. And Miss Page, I assume, will be none the wiser?”
“She will not know his identity initially, but she must be made aware that her prince is, at least, present. That is, of course, if Lord Pendlewood agrees to this plan.”
“Her prince?”
“Like many young ladies, Miss Page is hoping for a fairy tale.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon sat back.
“And I promised to try and find her a prince. Knowing he is potentially somewhere in the crowd will sharpen her perception. Of course, nothing is guaranteed. Miss Page may decide he is not for her or Lord Pendlewood may decide she is not for him. Bear in mind, my lord, he is not the only eligible man in the realm, gentry or otherwise, and I intend to make that very clear to Miss Page. Indeed, the odds of finding a suitor other than Lord Pendlewood are very much in her favor. You said yourself, her suitability for marriage is excellent.”
“Yes, indeed, and I shall make that clear to him.”
“And Lady Eskdale will be amenable to all this?”
“Oh, she already knows I’m up to something. Considering Lord Pendlewood’s past efforts, I daresay she’s going to thoroughly enjoy this little payback game.”
A soft chuckle came from behind the veil.
“As will I, my lord, but first things first. You need to convince Lord Pendlewood that Miss Page is perfect for him while assuring him that he’s free to ascertain that for himself.
Assuming he agrees, and I confess to having doubts, then you and Lady Eskdale must arrange a meeting with Miss Page.
When the time comes, please let me know where and when, and I shall advise Miss Page accordingly.
We’ll continue from there.” She rose, scraping her chair back.
“Now, my lord, as I’m sure you’re aware, I’m a very busy woman.
I appreciate your time and especially your donation to the Lyon’s Den coffers. Please give Lady Eskdale my regards.”
Edward, feeling rather like a peddler who had just been summarily dismissed, also got to his feet. “I will, madam,” he said, not quite sure whether to be insulted or amused. “Thank you for your time and the exceptional cognac. I shall be in touch.”